What Is Arthritis?
"Arthritis" (which literally means joint inflammation) is not a single disease or simply a word healthcare providers use when they talk about painful, stiff joints. It is actually a term used to describe more than 100 kinds of diseases that affect the joints.
The condition can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Some forms of arthritis cause changes you can see and feel -- such as swelling, warmth, and redness in your joints. With some types, the pain and swelling last only a short time, but can be quite bad. Other types cause less troublesome symptoms, but still slowly damage your joints. Most
types of arthritis are chronic, which means they can go on for a long time.
Despite a lot of research, scientists still know very little about the different types of arthritis. In fact, scientists have been able to figure out the specific causes of only a few types. For some types, scientists know risk factors that may make a person more likely to develop the disease -- but not the actual cause or causes of it.
With so many different types of arthritis, healthcare providers often find it easier to separate them into categories.
Common categories include:
- Noninflammatory
- Inflammatory
- Infectious
- Hemorrhagic.
Noninflammatory
Noninflammatory types of arthritis can include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Neuropathic arthropathy (Charcot joint)
- Acute rheumatic fever (sometimes this is included in the inflammatory type)
- Ochronosis.
Inflammatory
Inflammatory types of arthritis can include:
Infectious
Infectious arthritis is a general term used to describe forms that are caused by germs, such as bacteria or viruses.
There are several types of infectious arthritis. The most common type is
septic arthritis, which is caused by certain types of bacteria. A few other types include:
Hemorrhagic
Hemorrhagic types of arthritis are caused by blood in the joint. Some conditions known to cause this type include:
You might have some form of arthritis if you have any of these possible symptoms:
- Lasting joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Joint stiffness
- Tenderness or pain when touching a joint
- Problems using or moving a joint normally
- Warmth and redness in a joint.
If any of these symptoms lasts longer than two weeks, see your regular doctor or a rheumatologist. If you have a fever, feel physically ill, suddenly have a swollen joint, or have problems using your joint, see your doctor sooner.
Any joint can be affected. However, certain types are more likely to affect certain joints. For example,
ankylosing spondylitis most often affects the joints in the lower spine.
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose arthritis, the healthcare provider will begin by asking a number of questions, then perform a physical exam, looking for possible signs. If he or she suspects arthritis, certain tests may be recommended. These tests can include:
- X-rays or other imaging tests
- Blood tests
- Other tests, such as synovial fluid testing.
Before making a definitive diagnosis, your healthcare provider will make sure you do not have other conditions that can share similar symptoms. A few of these conditions include:
(Click Diagnosing Arthritis for more information, including specific blood tests your healthcare provider may recommend.)
Your healthcare provider will develop a treatment plan designed to minimize your specific pain and improve the function of your joints. Some of the treatment options that he or she will consider include:
Many people with arthritis wonder if it is okay to exercise. The short answer is absolutely. Studies have shown that exercise helps people with the condition in many ways. In these people, exercise has been shown to:
- Reduce joint pain and stiffness
- Increase flexibility and muscle strength
- Improve cardiac fitness and endurance
- Help with weight reduction
- Contribute to an improved sense of well-being.
But everyone is a little different, so the amount and form of exercises recommended for each individual can vary, based on:
- Which joints are involved
- The amount of inflammation
- How stable the joints are
- Whether a joint replacement procedure has been done.
Three types of exercise are best if you have arthritis:
- Range-of-motion exercises, such as dancing. These exercises relieve stiffness, keep you flexible, and help you keep moving your joints.
- Strengthening exercises, such as weight training. These exercises will keep or add to muscle strength. Strong muscles support and protect your joints.
- Aerobic or endurance exercises, like bicycle riding. These exercises make your heart and arteries healthier, help prevent weight gain, and improve the overall working of your body. Aerobic exercise also may lessen swelling in some joints.
(Click Arthritis and Exercise for more information, including how to start an exercise program and how much exercise is too much.)
Advice on Preventing Arthritis
The steps for effectively preventing this disease are:
But will these steps prevent arthritis? The simple answer is probably not. There are so many different types, and each type can have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. There are also different ways to prevent each type of arthritis.
